Adjustable double lever nail clipper

ABSTRACT

A double levered, adjustable nail clipper that is particularly adapted to overcome the difficulties in cutting toenails. A typical embodiment has two action levers in opposed positions that permit applying twice the force of a single lever clipper. A pair of protrusions on the levers can be adjusted to change the width of the cutting gap. In addition, at least one of the action levers may be rotatable turning a penetrating pin that optionally further adjusts the width of the cutting gap A particular embodiment optionally allows the attachment and carrying of keys at the base of the unit.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of clippers and more particularly to an adjustable double nail clipper with protrusions that allow adjustment.

Description of the Problem Solved

Nail clippers are known in the art. Nail clippers can be found in the selves of the local convenience store. Most clippers are aimed at cutting fingernails. Toenails, on the other hand, are of a different character than fingernails. First, toenails are usually thicker and tougher than fingernails. Second, in many persons, toenails include extra material between the toe and the nail or are ingrown, especially in older people. Third, a significant percentage of the population has a nail fungus or other manifestation that makes toenails particularly hard to cut with prior art clippers or scissors. In addition, almost all prior art clippers are fixed in terms of the cutting channel size. It would be desirable to have an adjustable clipper to move between fingernails and toenails. It would also be advantageous to have a clipper that had a strong enough grip to cut really tough toenails with the problems listed above.

Jurena in U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,675 shows an adjustable nail clipper. It only has a single lever. Jung in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,514 teaches a nail clipper that can also hold keys. None of these prior art clippers solves the problem of cutting touch, possibly ingrown or otherwise difficult toenails that require extra force, while still being able to adjust to fingernails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a double levered, adjustable nail clipper that is particularly adapted to overcome the difficulties in cutting toenails. A typical embodiment has two action levers in opposed positions that permit applying twice the force of a single lever clipper. In addition, at least one of the action levers is rotatable, turning a threaded penetrating pin that adjusts the width of the cutting channel. This allows a simple conversion in the gap width of the cutting channel between the jaws to a close configuration for fingernails and a wide configuration for toenails. A particular embodiment optionally allows the attachment and carrying of keys, such as house keys and the like, at the base of the unit. A particular embodiment has only a single lever and can also optionally carry keys. Finally, a particular embodiment has a non-adjustable pin and a pair of adjustable protrusions that allow sizing of the cutting gap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now directed at several figures that illustrate features of the present invention.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the present invention in a cutting configuration

FIG. 1B shows the embodiment of FIG. 1A being adjusted.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention that can also hold keys.

FIG. 3 shows a single lever embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an adjustment pin.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention with adjustable protrusions.

FIG. 7 shows a 2-hole adjustable pin.

FIG. 8 shows an offset 2-hole adjustable pin.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a robust toenail/fingernail clipper that in particular embodiments is equipped with two opposing action levers permitting twice the pinching force to be applied to the jaws to cut tough toenails. In addition, at least one of these action levers rotates to adjust the width of the cutting gap by turning a threaded through-pin. This allows selection of a small gap for fingernails and a large gap for toenails, with several steps in between these two settings.

Turning to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of the present invention can be seen. A clipper body 1 with cutting jaws 10 and gap 11 is connected at its base with and insertable rivet 5 and cap 6. The device is equipped with two action levers 2 a and 2 b. At least one of the action levers 2 b can be rotated to adjust the width of the gap 11 by rotating two threaded parts of the pin 3 into one-another. A spring 12 is found between the jaws 10 encircling a special through-pin 3. Optional lever pads 4 can be attached to the distal ends of the action levers 2 a, 2 b. These lever pads 4 are typically round and give a much larger area for a fingers to apply pressure to the jaws 10.

FIG. 1B shows an embodiment of the threaded adjustment pin 3 that passes through the clipper body 1 and is surrounded by the spring 12. The pin shown in FIG. 1B has two clip ends. Alternate embodiments of the pin can have one clip end or simply be a pin with a small hole penetrating it. FIG. 1B also shows a side view of the round lever pad 4. While round is preferred, any shape may be used. The lever pad 4 is optional and may be left off the device. The lever pad 4 gives a stronger grip for cutting tough nails.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention that is equipped to hold keys on the outer surfaces of the two body parts 1 at the distal end of the clipper. The keys are easily removed by simply separating the rivet 5 and head 6. The keys can swing up to be aligned with the clipper body 1 for carrying.

FIG. 3 shows an different embodiment with only a single action lever 2. This embodiment may also optionally carry keys. The single action lever 2 can rotate to adjust the gap 11 between the jaws 10 as in other embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an adjustment pin with a single end clip. Adjustment pins may be single or double ended and may have a hole passing through them. The adjustment pin has two parts. The first part 3 has a hollow, threaded tunnel; the second part 20 is a male threaded screw that causes the pin to shorten or lengthen when rotated. The pin is used together with the action lever arms 2 a and/or 2 b. The pin in FIG. 4 is used when one arm rotates. A double pin is used when both arms rotate. A double pin looks like the pin in FIG. 4 except that each end resembles the part 3 with a threaded member in the center. When one or both of the action lever arms is rotated, the two parts of the pin move to either shorten or lengthen the pin. In this way, the action lever arms, when rotated, adjust the width of the gap 11 between the jaws 10.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention from FIGS. 1A-1B. The clipper body 1, lever arms 2 and lever pads 4 can be clearly seen as well as a adjustment pin 3.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Here there are two adjustable protrusions 200 on the lever arms. The pin 201 can be adjustable or fixed. The protrusions 200 allow independent adjustment of the jaw gap width independent of the pin 201. In some versions of the embodiment, the pin 201 can also be twisted with the lever arm to also adjust the gap. However, this is not necessary, since the protrusions 200 are sufficient to adjust the gap to any desired width from maximum width to zero.

FIG. 7 shows a close-in view of the pin shown in FIG. 6. This is a 2-hole, screw-in version. A fixed version can also be used (one with no threaded post, just a continuous body from hole to hole).

FIG. 8 shows an offset variation on the pin. This pin can be used in embodiments where only one lever arm is used to adjust the gap.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding features of the present invention. One skilled in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A double levered nail clipper comprising: left and right elongated jaws, each jaw with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal ends of the jaws attached to one-another, the proximal end of the jaws forming a cutting vise with a gap between the jaws; left and right action lever arms attached to the proximal ends of the jaws, the left and right action lever arms attached with a through pin having a spring between the jaws, the left and right action lever arms each having an adjustable protrusion that contacts the left and right elongated jaws respectively; wherein, the protrusions are constructed so that by adjusting length of the protrusions, the gap can be made smaller or larger; wherein, the nail clipper is configured so that squeezing the left and right action lever arms together allows the protrusions to press the jaws causing the proximal end of the jaws to close.
 2. The double levered nail clipper of claim 1 further comprising a left and right lever pad fixedly attached to a distal end of the left and right action lever arms.
 3. The double levered nail clipper of claim 2 wherein the left and right lever pads are circular.
 4. The double levered nail clipper of claim 1 further configured to hold keys where the distal ends of the jaws attached to one-another, the keys held to the jaws by a removable rivet.
 5. The double levered nail clipper of claim 1 wherein at least one of the left and right lever action arms are configured to rotate also causing the gap between the jaws to change width.
 6. The double levered nail clipper of claim 5 wherein only one of the left and right lever action arms is configured to rotate causing the gap between the jaws to change width.
 7. A nail clipper including a nail clipper body with two lever arms on opposing sides of said body, the two lever arms each having adjustable protrusions causing jaws on the nail clipper body to close when squeezed together; the jaws having a gap between them when the lever arms are not squeezed, wherein, adjusting the protrusions changes the gap between the jaws.
 8. The nail clipper of claim 7 wherein at least one of the lever arms is also rotatable to adjust the gap.
 9. The nail clipper of claim 8 wherein only one of the lever arms is rotatable to adjust the gap.
 10. The nail clipper of claim 7 further comprising lever pads attached to distal ends of the lever arms.
 11. The nail clipper of claim 10 wherein said lever pads are round.
 12. The nail clipper of claim 7 further comprising a removable rivet at distal ends of the nail clipper body, the removable rivet adapted to optionally hold keys.
 13. A method for giving a nail clipper with a cutting gap between jaws extra clipper power and making it adjustable for different sized nails comprising: attaching a pair of nail clipper jaws together at distal ends; attaching two lever arms to the nail clipper jaws in opposing positions; providing an adjustable protrusion on each of the two lever arms, adjustment of one or both of the adjustable protrusions causing the cutting gap to change width for different sized nails.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the lever arms can also rotate to adjust said cutting gap.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein only one of said lever arms can rotate to adjust said cutting gap.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein each lever arm has a lever pad on a distal end.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the lever pads are round.
 18. The method of claim 13 further comprising: attaching the nail clipper jaws together with a removable rivet adapted to optionally hold keys. 